Circuit asymmetries underlie functional lateralization in the mouse auditory cortex

Robert B. Levy, Tiemo Marquarding, Ashlan P. Reid, Christopher M. Pun, Nicolas Renier and Hysell V. Oviedo ()
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Robert B. Levy: The City College of New York
Tiemo Marquarding: The City College of New York
Ashlan P. Reid: The City College of New York
Christopher M. Pun: Macaulay Honors College
Nicolas Renier: Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle Epinière
Hysell V. Oviedo: The City College of New York

Nature Communications, 2019, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-15

Abstract: Abstract The left hemisphere’s dominance in processing social communication has been known for over a century, but the mechanisms underlying this lateralized cortical function are poorly understood. Here, we compare the structure, function, and development of each auditory cortex (ACx) in the mouse to look for specializations that may underlie lateralization. Using Fos brain volume imaging, we found greater activation in the left ACx in response to vocalizations, while the right ACx responded more to frequency sweeps. In vivo recordings identified hemispheric differences in spectrotemporal selectivity, reinforcing their functional differences. We then compared the synaptic connectivity within each hemisphere and discovered lateralized circuit-motifs that are hearing experience-dependent. Our results suggest a specialist role for the left ACx, focused on facilitating the detection of specific vocalization features, while the right ACx is a generalist with the ability to integrate spectrotemporal features more broadly.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-10690-3

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